The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-06-15
ncy. II the education was as high as it

fancy. III the education Was as high as 1t
was possible to afford a young and intelli-
gent spirit, the moral Influences were
equally beneficial. The young Princess,
instead of being isolated within the formal
tiles OF a court, was allowed 10 become ac-
quainted with the wants and suheiings OF
the poor, and 10 indulge her s,mpathies by
giving them personal help. The contrast
was great one between tn Court of
George ~. or even that of William, and
the truly English home where the Duchess
of Kent nurturei this sweet life in all that
was simple, loving, and pure. There could
scarcely have been a better school for an
affectionate nature.
Without touching on the earlier period
of her reign, which was not without many
incidents of interest, we turn to the married
years of the Queen as to bright and
sunny memory.
The Queens married life was ideally
perfect. She married the man she loved,
and each year deepened her early affection
into an admiration, reverence and pride
which elevated her love into conservation.
There was no home in England made more
beautiful by all that was tender, cultured,
and noble, than that in which "the blame
less prince" fulfilled his heroic career OF
duty, and shed the bright light of his joy
Gus, affectionate, and keenly intellectual
life. There were fewer homes in which
greater amount of trying and anxious work
was more Systematically accomplished, or
in which there was more exquisite
blending of hard thinking with the
enjoyment of the fine arts and the
fullness of loving family happiness.
II is when we come to this bright time,
so full of fresh interest and Of delight
full freedom, that we have the advantages
of the Queens own Leaves from the
Journal of Our Life in the Highlands. I"
Her visit TO Edinburgh IN 1912, and the
| drive by Birnam and Aberfeld to Tay-
mouth, and the splendor Of the reception,
when amid the cheers OF thousand High
landers and the wild notes of the bag
pipes, she was welcomed by Lord Breadal-
bane, evidently stirred every feeling of
| romance. 1T seemed" she wrote, las
| if great chieftain of olden feudal
times was receiving his sovereign. "
| IL appeared like new world
when, throwing of for time the resric-
tons of state, she found herself at Blair
two years afterward, climbing the great
hills of Athol, and from the top of Tulloch
looking forth on the panorama of noun
tain and glen. 1T was quite romantic;
here We were with only this Highlander
behind us holding the ponies; not a
house, not a creature near us but the pretty
Highland sheep, with their horns and
black faces. 1t was the most delight
| full, most romantic ride and walk
ever had" These early visits to Scotland
inspired her with her love of the Highlands
and the Highlanders. She found there
quite a world of poetry. The majestic
scenery the fresh, bracing air, the pic
turesqueness CT the killed gillies, the pip
| ing and the dancing, and the long DAYS
among the heather. recalled scenes which
Sir Walter Scott has gorified for all time,
and which are specially identified with the
fortunes of the unhappy Stuarts.
We do not wonder at the attachment felt
by the royal pair for Balmoral. The High
lands have a charm which every healthy
mind must acknowledge. The sportsman
and the tourist confess it when they rush
from the crowded town and the cares OF
business, or from the tanner beauties OF cul-
tured lands, TO enjoy bath of liberty on
the fresh seas and lochs of theWestern Heb
| rides or among the vast solitude OF the
Grampians.
II was here that the Queen aud the Prince
| Consort enjoyed for more than twelve year,
delightful freedom, mingling with theil
people, deyising the wisest methods for in
surfing their well-being, going with them &c
worship in their plain very plainD parish
church, and being TO each and all unatfect-
edly sincere friends. Every spot around
soon became consecrated by some sweet
association. Her life at Balmoral, since
| her great sorrow, maintains. as far as may
be, the traditions of the happy past. She
| still makes expeditions, cognita or incog-
Mia, sometimes to the scenes of former
enjoyments or to new places of interest.